God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 21:20
20Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person, but a fool devours them.
Proverbs 21:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- New International Version (NIV)The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.
Context of Proverbs 21:20
18Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people, and treacherous people will take the place of decent people. 19Better to live in a desert than with a quarreling and angry woman. Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person, but a fool devours them. 21Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22A wise man attacks a city of warriors and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.
Read all of Proverbs 21Proverbs 21:20 word by word
אוֹצָ֤ר׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 21:20
- Proverbs 10:22It is the Lord’s blessing that makes a person rich, and hard work adds nothing to it.
- Proverbs 15:6Great treasure is in the house of a righteous person, but trouble comes along with the income of a wicked person.
- Psalms 112:3Wealth and riches will be in his home. His righteousness continues forever.
- Ecclesiastes 5:19It is a gift from God when God gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, ⌞the ability⌟ to accept their lot in life, and ⌞the ability⌟ to rejoice in their own hard work.
- Ecclesiastes 7:11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. It is an advantage to everyone who sees the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 10:19A meal is made for laughter, and wine makes life pleasant, but money is the answer for everything.
- Matthew 6:19“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal.
- Luke 6:45Good people do the good that is in them. But evil people do the evil that is in them. The things people say come from inside them.
- Psalms 23:5You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
- Jeremiah 41:8However, ten men from the group had said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us! We have wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey hidden in the country.” So he left them alone and didn’t kill them along with the others.
- Matthew 25:3The foolish bridesmaids took their lamps, but they didn’t take any extra oil.
- Luke 15:14He had nothing left when a severe famine spread throughout that country. He had nothing to live on.
- Luke 16:1Then Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a business manager. The manager was accused of wasting the rich man’s property.
Commentaries on Proverbs 21:20
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Spendeth it up - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1-13.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 The plenty obtained by prudence, industry, and frugality, is desirable. But the foolish misspend what they have upon their lusts.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20See also to Proverbs 3:9–10, 15–16; 10:15, 16, 22; 14:24.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. The wise, by diligence and care, lay up and increase wealth, while fools spend--literally, "swallow it up," greedily.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 21:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries